[Misc] Air BnB scam (not Air BnB)

Official Old Man

Uckfield Seagull

Aug 27, 2011

8,544

Brighton

• Jan 27, 2018

• #1

I'm putting this up to warn others.
Friend of mine found an apartment in Brighton for long rent on Airbnb. I knew it was a 'too good to be true' scam but they wouldn't listen.
Friend asked lots of questions on what looked like the official airbnb site but when it came to paying was instructed to pay cash into a personal overseas bank account.
£1500 lost!
I've seen the web page plus the web chat and it all looked so real, until the payment bit.
Whilst I'm sure airbnb would like me to point out it was not them involved, just be warned.

 

Triggaaar

Well-known member

Oct 24, 2005

50,170

Goldstone

• Jan 27, 2018

• #2

I remember the good times said:

I knew it was a 'too good to be true' scam but they wouldn't listen.
...
was instructed to pay cash into a personal overseas bank account.
£1500 lost!

Click to expand...

You told them it was a scam, and then they paid £1500 cash into an overseas account

 

Stat Brother

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Jul 11, 2003

73,666

West west west Sussex

• Jan 27, 2018

• #3

Triggaaar said:

You told them it was a scam, and then they paid £1500 cash into an overseas account

Click to expand...

If only there was some kind of clue to it's scaminess.

 

Triggaaar

Well-known member

Oct 24, 2005

50,170

Goldstone

• Jan 27, 2018

• #4

Stat Brother said:

If only there was some kind of clue to it's scaminess.

Click to expand...

It would have fooled anyone

 

happypig

Staring at the rude boys

May 23, 2009

7,960

Eastbourne

• Jan 27, 2018

• #5

What should I do if someone asks me to pay outside of the Airbnb website?
Don’t send them money, and immediately let us know. We’ll never ask you to pay for anything outside of our site, through email, or through a third-party booker.

Click to expand...

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/help/artic...-asks-me-to-pay-outside-of-the-airbnb-website

 

Triggaaar

Well-known member

Oct 24, 2005

50,170

Goldstone

• Jan 27, 2018

• #6

A fool and their money

 

Official Old Man

Uckfield Seagull

Aug 27, 2011

8,544

Brighton

• Jan 27, 2018

• Thread starter
• #7

DON'T CLICK ON THIS
Going over the details I saw this is the web site http://www.airbnb.com-request-booking.space/booking/listing/7c5473/?rent=1516619065?s=eRGFZrin
Initially I saw the airbnb.com but looking deeper it is a lot of stuff that ends .space/booking
The web site was perfect including the web chat function.
It has now been closed down.

 

Triggaaar

Well-known member

Oct 24, 2005

50,170

Goldstone

• Jan 27, 2018

• #8

I remember the good times said:

Initially I saw the airbnb.com but looking deeper it is a lot of stuff that ends .space/booking

Click to expand...

That'll do it.

Unfortunately people don't understand web addresses.

The warning above says to only pay though their site, but if you think you're on their site and you're not, that doesn't help much.